Evaluation of Large-Scale Production of Chitosan Microbeads Modified with Nanoparticles Based on Exergy Analysis

Samir Meramo-Hurtado, Adriana Herrera-Barros and Ángel González-Delgado
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Samir Meramo-Hurtado: Nanomaterials and Computer Aided Process Engineering Research Group (NIPAC), University of Cartagena, Cartagena 130015, Colombia
Adriana Herrera-Barros: Nanomaterials and Computer Aided Process Engineering Research Group (NIPAC), University of Cartagena, Cartagena 130015, Colombia
Ángel González-Delgado: Nanomaterials and Computer Aided Process Engineering Research Group (NIPAC), University of Cartagena, Cartagena 130015, Colombia

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: Novel technologies for bio-adsorbent production are being evaluated on the lab-scale in order to find the most adequate processing alternative under technical parameters. However, the poor energy efficiency of promising technologies can be a drawback for large-scale production of these bio-adsorbents. In this work, exergy analysis was used as a computer-aided tool to evaluate from the energy point of view, the behavior of three bio-adsorbent production topologies at large scale for obtaining chitosan microbeads modified with magnetic and photocatalytic nanoparticles. The routes were modeled using an industrial process simulation software, based on experimental results and information reported in literature. Mass, energy and exergy balances were performed for each alternative, physical and chemical exergies of streams and chemical species were calculated according to the thermodynamic properties of biomass components and operating conditions of stages. Exergy efficiencies, total process irreversibilities, energy consumption, and exergy destruction were calculated for all routes. Route 2 presents the highest process irreversibilities and route 3 has the highest exergy of utilities. Exergy efficiencies were similar for all simulated cases, which did not allow to choose the best alternative under energy viewpoint. Exergy sinks for each topology were detected. As values of exergy efficiency were under 3%, it was shown that there are process improvement opportunities in product drying stages and washing water recovery for the three routes.

Keywords: bio-adsorbents; exergy analysis; chitosan microbeads; nanoparticles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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